Chapter 1

Try to describe the process of photosynthesis in your own words.

 The sun(light energy), water, minerals and carbon dioxide are all absorbed by the plant.  The plant then uses them to make glucose/sugar, which is the energy/food for the plant.  Oxygen is also produced by the plant in this cycle, which is then let off into the air!  Have you noticed how clean and pure the air feels when there are plants around? They are filling the air with

 Plants are called producers. This is because they produce their own food!  They do this by using light energy from the Sun, carbon dioxide from the air and water from the soil to produce food - in the form of glucose/sugar..

 Some producers do not contain chlorophyll  They do NOT use energy from the sun  These organisms can be found near volcanic vents on the ocean floor  Inorganic molecules in the water provide the energy source for chemosysnthsis

 Animals are called consumers. This is because they cannot make their own food, so they need to consume (eat) plants and/or animals.

 Herbivores: Animals that eat only plants.  Carnivores: Animals that eat only animals.  Omnivores: Animals that eat both animals AND plants.  Decomposers consume waste and dead organisms.

 Decomposers help recycle once-living matter by breaking it down into simple, energy-rich substances.  These substances might serve as food for decomposers, be absorbed by plant roots, or be consumed by other organisms

At each link in the chain, energy is being transferred from one animal to another.

There is actually even more to this chain. After a hawk dies, fungi (like mushrooms) and other decomposers break down the dead hawk, and turn the remains of the hawk into nutrients, which are released into the soil. The nutrients (plus sun and water) then cause the grass to grow. It's a full circle of life and energy!!

So food chains make a full circle, and energy is passed from plant to animal to animal to decomposer and back to plant!